Forestry Research and Outreach

Before You Buy

The trusted information you need before buying California forestland- all in one place.

Whether you're looking at properties with pines or oaks, many forest, fire, and financial considerations transcend forest ecosystems. Our Forest Stewardship team has compiled resources that every prospective landowner can reference to feel confident in their buying decision. 

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Webinars

Newsletters

Resources

 

Forest with a road running through the middle.

 

"Before you buy is the exact right time to evaluate the property, identify priority home hardening actions, and cost those out so that you can negotiate that cost with the seller."

-Marty Walters, Plumas County landowner.

 

Before you Buy Webinars

 

Forest Stewardship Webinar: Before you Buy Forestland Pt. 1

Watch on YouTube

 

Forest Landowner Q&A: Before you Buy Forestland Pt. 1

Watch on YouTube

Before you Buy Forestland Part 1: Forest Stewardship Considerations

Start your forest landowner journey here. This first webinar of the series will introduce management concepts, what to look out for on property visits, and what you can expect from the day-to-day work of being a landowner. The webinar also features a guest panel of current forest landowners who share their perspectives on stewardship.

Topics and speakers:

  1. Becoming a private forest landowner in California. Susie Kocher, RPF #2874, UC ANR Forestry and Natural Resources Advisor.
  2. Forest conditions- what to look for, and why it's important. Katie Reidy, UC ANR Post-Fire Forest Resilience Academic Coordinator.
  3. Living in the forest- what kind of work is involved and who is going to do what? Jeff Stackhouse, UC ANR Livestock and Natural Resources Advisor.

 

Watch on YouTube

 

Forest Landowner Q&A: Before you Buy Forestland Pt. 2

Watch on YouTube

Before you Buy Forestland Part 2: Living with Wildfire

The threat of wildfire is an important consideration for those seeking to buy forestland, but knowing the role of fire and how it can be used as a management tool can help you assess different properties with fresh eyes. Learn about evacuation planning, defensible space techniques, and good fire with this webinar. The webinar also features a guest panel of landowners who have participated in local prescribed burn associations and implemented defensible space techniques on their properties.

Topics and speakers:

  1. Wildfire preparedness for livestock producers. Tracy Schor, UC ANR Livestock and Natural Resources Advisor.
  2. Defensible space. Natasha Fouts, CAL FIRE Fire Prevention Specialist.
  3. Managing vegetation is key to restoring forest health. Susie Kocher, RPF #2874, UC ANR Forestry and Natural Resources Advisor and Morgan Galliano, El Dorado Amador Prescribed Burn Association Coordinator.

 

 

Forest Stewardship Webinar: Before you Buy Forestland Pt. 3

Watch on YouTube

 

Forest Landowner Q&A: Before you Buy Forestland Pt. 3

Watch on YouTube

Before you Buy Forestland Part 3: Financial Practicalities

Deciding to own forestland is as much a financial decision as it is a passion or lifestyle choice. This last webinar will cover methods for offsetting the cost of management and the realities of California's fire insurance market. The webinar also features a guest panel of current forest landowners who have participated in logging, cost-share programs, or other means of balancing their management costs.

Topics and speakers:

  1. Forest management for potential landowners- guiding new owners in sustainable forest stewardship. Jacob Harrower, RPF #3070, Frontier Resource Management LLC.
  2. Financial assistance programs for forest landowners. Kim Ingram, UC ANR Forest Stewardship Academic Coordinator.
  3. Conservation easements 101. Lauren Miller, Sierra Foothill Conservancy Conservation Director.
  4. Navigating California's fire insurance- challenges for forest landowners. Yana Valchovic, RPF #2740, UC ANR Forestry and Natural Resources Advisor.

 

Before you Buy Newsletters

 

Newsletter front page
Before you Buy Forestland Pt. 1 Newsletter

Download

Newsletter front page
Before you Buy Forestland Pt. 2 Newsletter

Download

Newsletter front page
Before you Buy Forestland Pt. 3 Newsletter

Download

 

Before you Buy Resources

 

Coyote brush flowers.
People walking in a redwood forest
Conifer encroachment on a meadow.

 

Fact Sheet: Buying Forestland? Consider this...(UC ANR)

Are you on the first step of your purchasing journey? Start here! This fact sheet gives an overview of the questions you'll want to ask yourself before you begin touring parcels and tips for approaching this big decision.

Download

 

Checklist: Before you Buy; Property Visit Checklist (UC ANR) 

Our team developed this handy checklist for your property visit needs. Explore key questions and gather information about the property you’re considering.
Not every item will apply to your situation, but identifying what you know—and what you don’t—will help you advocate for yourself and make informed decisions.

Download

 

Learn more with our curated resource pages!

If you are curious about:

  • The forest landowner experience
  • Evaluating forest health
  • Estimating the time needed to manage a parcel

Visit our page of curated Forest Stewardship resources.

If your concerns include:

  • Fire preparedness
  • Using prescribed fire
  • Rehabilitating burned forestland

Visit our page of Living with Wildfire resources.

If you want to learn more about:

  • Programs to help offset the cost of management activities
  • Taxes as a landowner
  • Planning for the future

Visit our page of Financial Practicalities resources.

Prescribed fire burns through a previously burned forest.

 

A man and a woman work in front of a computer.